We are tempted to not make reservations for meals and not to add a meal plan. Last time we booked all those meals and had to plan around them. Plus it was way too much food on the dining plan. We would get quick service most of the time and need to have healthy options. Do you know if we would be able to just walk up and get a table when we wanted in May? We don't care about characters or dining events. We just need healthy options(grilled chicken, vegetables).
As others have said, reservations for the sit down/character places. This being January and you're going in May, may be tough to get a reservation.
We did the meal plan and found it to be worth it.
You state there was 'too much food' on the dining plan, there are different levels.
We were just there in November and we did not make any reservations. I think if you DO care about characters, etc. you need reservations, but if not, then just eat as you please. We did not have any problems getting a table when we wanted to eat...but we were shocked at how "relaxing" things were - no lines, etc. I think we picked the RIGHT time to go!! May might be a good time, too, before many schools let out for summer.
Good luck!!
Are you talking about Disney World? If you want to experience some of the nicer places I would suggest making a few reservations.
M
We went to DisneyWorld numerous times from the time daughter was 2 until 15. Our visits were each 2 years . We never did a meal plan. Seemed like a waste because we don't eat that much food in 1 sitting!
We did reservations for any character event we were interested in as well as the traditional luau at Polynesian.
The only place we ever stayed was Polynesian and it is fantastic!
I personally would not go for a meal plan and I would make reservations only for the places I wanted to make sure we visited.
I think I'm the only person in the world who didn't like the dining plan. For us it was too much food and too much working around food to schedule things.
I would make reservations for the better restaurants (themed breakfasts, Cinderella's castle, etc.) by at least March. Just do one fun or special meal a day and plan your visit around it. It will be extremely busy and all booked up if you wait until you get there.
Disney is still pretty busy in May. The Flower and Garden Festival is at EPCOT and they have added additional food carts this year. It is very hard to walk up and get a table at any of the sit down restaurants unless you go very early or very late (4 pm or 9:15). You can also check with Guest Services when you get to the park in the morning and they can tell you what restaurants still have reservations available or lots of availability during the day. Have fun! We will be there too! We have made reservations for one night to celebrate some Birthdays and one character dining lunch and the rest of the time we will eat wherever we happen to be at a quick dining restaurant. We try to visit them at off hours to avoid the lines.
if you're talking about the snack carts and such, you're fine, or the random restaurants(but they don't even take reservations) - if you're talking character breakfasts or lunch/dinner at the castle, etc. or some of the other "big deal" places - I don't think you'll find anything available by just walking up...
When I was there (which, admittedly, was YEARS ago) the restaurants at our hotel (the Dolphin.... on property) were always full. We ended up ordering room service and then taking it out to the pool if we wanted something other than the "bar" food, which is hamburgers, nachos etc.
I would check with your hotel and see what they say.
We were introduced to Disney World by some friends that have been going for DECADES, and we've gone with them six or eight times. What they taught us, and we've found works well:
Look on TourGuideMike.com (or some other planing site) for least crowded days in each park, to determine what days you want to be in which park. From here, we make -one- sit-down meal reservation, to make sure 1) we get into our favorite restaurant(s), and 2) that we get to eat at a reasonable hour.
SO, while on vacation, we'll usually grab a quick breakfast on the way to the park (muffins, bagels, Clif bars, etc.), one full-service meal (per our reservation, either lunch or dinner), then for the other meal we'll either just snack, or hit a counter-service restaurant. This way, you're only having to coordinate around one "appointment." Also keep in mind, unless it's a Character dining meal (where you paid up-front when you made the reservation), you -don't have to- show up for your reservation.
We purchased the dining plan once (when we went without the other family), and decided that we'll never do that again. Agreed: too much food, and not really worth it. Tables in Wonderland is a membership you can purchase, that gets you discounts at lots of restaurants. It worked great, when we were traveling with four adults and five kids.
Happy traveling!
M.
If you plan to go to a sit down restaurant you need a reservation. We have been to Disney in May many times and as we are waiting for our table there are always families trying to get a reservation and there are not only no tables for that night but the entire week they are there.
Obviously, if you are doing counter service then you are fine as counter service places don't take reservations.
Not at the sit down restaurants. The carts and counters not a problem. Table meals, make reservations now if you want to eat at one.
You tried it and didn't like it. So don't do it again. As long as you're prepared to have some waits or even disappointment then You're ok.
There are some benefits to reserving. If you reserve at certain restaurants in DHS you can get tix to Illuminations. So I think that is worth the reservation. Look into those and wing the rest. And ENJOY!!
No you don't. You can get in somewhere and it's pretty easy to see where with the app, but you will still need to make ressies slightly in advance (i.e. no walk ups). You just won't be able to get into character meals, or some of the signature restaurants.
For most people, the meal plan actually costs more money for food you don't always eat (I don't eat 3 desserts a day). You really have to know how to optimize the meal plan in order to come out ahead.
Most of the character dining will be hard to get into but if it was too demanding the first time then I wouldn't bother. Maybe just plan one or two nice sit down meals.
Being local I can usually get into some of our favorite places within a weeks notice. We frequent Germany, Italy and Mexico in Epcot. The Sci-fi Diner and the 50's café in Hollywood Studios. If we go to Magic Kingdom we just get quick meals (they do offer healthy options at most of the quick service places).
Downtown Disney has some nice places too but you should be able to get in with no problem (maybe just a wait).
I will suggest bringing a small cooler/backpack and bringing your smaller meals and snacks. It will save you money and you probably wont eat as much while you are walking all over the parks. Just be sure to drink lots of liquids, it starts getting hot then.
We did the meal plans (I think the quick service) just because it was cheaper than the full price of the food. Most of the places we ate at did have healthy choices on the menu.
